What to Do with your Family this Spring

Spring is nearly here, so get inspired with our guide to the best events and activities happening across the UK over the next few months

RHS Flower Show, Cardiff – 13th to 15th April

Get the gardening season started at the RHS Flower Show Cardiff, celebrating the very best of springtime. The show is all about encouraging those with “green fingers” to learn and grow as gardeners, and use their outdoor spaces more creatively. This year, you’ll find super shopping ideas, innovative and vibrant designs, plus talks and demos from expert gardeners. There’s also a Farmers’ Market, Flora Marquee and Plant Village, and a brand-new Floristry Bench, where you can learn how best to display your homegrown blooms. Tickets from £10. rhs.org.uk

The EY Exhibition: Picasso 1932 – Love, Fame and Tragedy, Tate Modern, London – open until 9th September

Credit: Tate Modern

The first ever solo Picasso exhibition opens at the Tate Modern this spring, bringing together the creative works of the 20th century’s most influential artist. With more than 100 paintings, sculptures and drawings, mixed with family photographs and rare glimpses into his personal life, this exhibition strips away the myths around Picasso to reveal the man behind the artist – a unique opportunity not to be missed. Entry £22, tate.org.uk

Edinburgh International Science Festival – 31st March to 15th April

Credit: Edinburgh International Science Festival

Now in its 30th year, Edinburgh’s International Science Festival celebrates the wonder of life in all its forms, looking at Earth and beyond, and how science and technology will help us sustain our planet for the future. The two-week programme is packed full of events for families, including the “Science Mini Cinema”, “Blood Bar”, “Mini Mechanics” and “Unwrapping the Coral”. There’s plenty for grown-ups, too – from discussions and debates, to workshops, screenings and nights out, all with a scientific twist! Child from £7, adult from £8. sciencefestival.co.uk

The Postal Museum, London

Credit: The Postal Museum

Forget Facebook – the origins of social media first began with one of the greatest British inventions… the post! Discover the surprising story behind our iconic mail system at The Postal Museum, a brand-new attraction in central London. Descend into the former engineering depot of the underground railway and ride through the hidden tunnels beneath the capital’s bustling streets. Or, if it’s little ones you’re looking to entertain, Sorted! The Postal Play Space is the perfect spot for children under eight, featuring an immersive mini-town with streets, buildings, slides and chutes. Child from £7.25, adult £14.50. postalmuseum.org

digiPlaySpace, The National Children’s Museum, West Yorkshire – open until 15th April

Credit: Eureka – The National Children’s Museum

If traditional art galleries don’t enthuse your children, digiPlaySpace almost definitely will! This interactive exhibition has been so popular that it’s now sticking around until after the Easter holidays, with the chance to build robots, use stop-motion animation and make your own dance videos. Using state-of-the-art technology, the exhibit encourages visitors to get hands-on with some of the most creative uses of digital equipment, through a variety of games and activities. Child from £5.25, adult £12.95.eureka.org.uk

Ferrari: Under the Skin, The Design Museum, London – open until 18th April

Credit: The Design Museum

Motor heads and car enthusiasts can speed their way through 70 years of glamour, passion and design innovation at Ferrari: Under the Skin, which gives visitors a thrilling behind-the-scenes look at one of the world’s most iconic car brands. Explore the design process, famous clientele and how the luxury manufacturer has changed over the decades, with rare cars and memorabilia on display to the public for the first time. Tickets £18. designmuseum.org

Octopus Hideout, Sea Life Birmingham

Credit: Sea Life Birmingham

Did you know that the Giant Pacific Octopus is one of the smartest sea creatures in the animal kingdom? They can solve problems, negotiate complex mazes and even with the head the size of an adult’s hand, can fit through a hole the size of a £1 coin! Now animal-lovers can get closer than ever before to these remarkable creatures in the brand-new Octopus Hideout exhibit at Sea Life Birmingham. Admission included with a Sea Life Birmingham entry ticket. Tickets from £12.75. visitsealife.com

China’s First Emperor and the Terracotta Warriors, Liverpool World Museum – open until 9th November

Come face-to-face with some of the world’s finest treasures as part of an extraordinary exhibit at Liverpool World Museum. Spanning almost 1,000 years, China’s First Emperor and the Terracotta Warriors reveals the struggles of the Chinese nation while giving an insight into ancient Chinese lifestyle. Visitors can also check out a life-size terracotta horse, as well as other beautifully-crafted objects from the Emperor’s burial complex. Child £5.50, adult £14.50. liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

ABBA: Super Troupers, Southbank Centre, London – open until 29th April

Fans of Swedish pop sensation ABBA will be enthralled by the latest addition to Southbank Centre’s Nordic Matters series, as ABBA: Super Troupers invites guests on a musical journey through 1970s Britain. Walk through nine immersive rooms exploring the music, lyrics and lives of one of the world’s most iconic bands, with an opportunity to view never-before-seen items from ABBA’s archive, including personal notes, memorabilia and costumes. Prices start from £15. southbankcentre.co.uk

Horrible Histories Maze, Warwick Castle

Credit: Warwick Castle

Get lost in time at Warwick Castle’s Horrible Histories Maze, in which there’s an adventure around every corner! Take the path towards the Terrifying Tudors, where you might find yourself in thrown in the stocks if you don’t follow their loathsome laws. Or if it’s Slimy Stuarts who fascinate you, follow the fuse towards the barrel maze and find the gunpowder before it explodes!warwick-castle.com

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